NPR: A Political Primary Pile-Up

A Political Primary Pile-Up

The way things are moving we might as well just have the presidential primaries next week and get it over with. South Carolina Republicans just announced that they will hold their primary on Jan. 19, 2008. That means the me-firsters in New Hampshire will have to move their primary up to, at latest, Jan. 12. And yes, they have to. It's state law.

Iowa may leapfrog them all. But unless voters there want to be kissing Barack Obama at a New Year's Eve caucus, Iowa may be forced to schedule before the holidays. To all those reporters who complained that there's nothing worse than January in Iowa, wait until you feel December.

None of is this is set in stone, yet. The states are locked in battles with the political parties, which want to impose some sort of rational order on the primary schedule. And Iowa knows that anything that happens before Christmas is forgotten by Boxing Day. CNN quoted one official there:

"Iowa is not going to be driven by the Republican Party in South Carolina making a change to their primary date," said Carrie Giddins, communications director for the Iowa Democratic Party. "Nobody wants to go in December and Iowa will remain first in the nation."

Hmm. Using that logic, though, the state may only have one option: At 12 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2008, Iowans will be forced to pop the champagne cork, sing "Auld Lang Syne" and caucus the night away.

- Robert Smith

1:36 PM ET | 08- 9-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

This was very fortunate for Justin, the
22 yr.old, Army Dept. Officer. I'm not
too sure, about Officer Stone, tho.

Sent by Sharon Lee Blaiss | 8:44 PM ET | 08-09-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.